More employers requiring staff to return to the office has been a major factor, combined with slower house price growth in the capital, which has curbed the buying power of would-be London leavers, the agency found.

Hamptons’ calculations based on Countrywide data, show that Londoners bought 5.3% of homes sold outside the capital in the first seven months of 2025 – the lowest share since 2013.

Compared to the most recent peak in 2021, the number of homes bought by London leavers outside the capital has halved, from 63,600 to 31,620 in the year to the end of July compared with the corresponding period.

However, those moving from inner-London homes made up a record 30% of all those leaving the capital this year, up from 25% a decade ago.

But these sellers are getting significantly smaller floorplans for their money when they move away from the capital – with the square footage that they can afford shrinking by 32% on average – the equivalent of two double bedrooms.

Dartford topped the list of hotspots for London leavers in 2025, with buyers from the capital accounting for 67% of all purchases. 

Second on the list was Epping Forest where 62% of buyers were London leavers.

Tandridge was the third most popular spot with London leavers making up 61% of all buyers, followed by Thurrock with 59% and Hertsmere with 54%.

Hamptons head of research Aneisha Beveridge says: “London’s housing market has been treading water for much of the last decade, and that’s now shaping migration patterns. 

“The return to the office has played a role in curbing the appetite for long-distance moves, but it’s the lack of price growth in the capital that’s really clipped the wings of would-be leavers. 

“Many London homeowners simply haven’t built up enough equity to make the leap to where they want to go, especially as prices outside the capital have continued to climb. 

“The result is fewer moves, shorter distances, and a growing focus on affordability over aspiration.

“We’re seeing a clear shift in where Londoners are heading. 

“The pandemic pushed buyers into leafier, more lifestyle-driven locations, but today’s movers are more pragmatic. 

“Places like Dartford and Thurrock are topping the list—not just because they’re commutable, but because they offer better value, particularly for first-time buyers. 

“In a sign of the times, the dream of doubling your space still exists, but it’s no longer a given.

“Buyers are having to compromise, and that’s reshaping the map of London outmigration.”